Button-attaching machine



B. T. LEVEQUE.

BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26, 1918.

"1,348,229. Patented g- 3, 1920,

2 SHEETS-SHEET L was jven'far hM/ M411 Half/41% B. T. LEVEQUE. BUTTON ATTACHING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 26. I918.

1 34:8229.- -PatentedAug. 3,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- maMWf W UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE."

BERNARD T. LEVEQUE, OF WENHAM, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHINERY CORPORATION, OF PATERSON, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

BUTTON -ATTACHING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BERNARD T. LEVEQUE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Venham, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Button-Attaching Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

I The invention relates to machines forsewing on buttons, and more particularly to machines in which each button is attached by a plurality of superposed stitches.

Machines of'this type as heretofore constructed have been automatically stopped after each button is attached to permit the operator to feed the succeeding button into attaching position, or to feed the work into position for the attachment of the succeeding button. It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a machine of this type which will operate to automatically attach and space a series of buttons, thereby increasing the rapidity with which the buttons may be attached, with a corresponding increase in the production of the machine.

To this end a feature of the invention con-- templates the provision 'in a machine in which the stitch forming mechanism attaches each button by a series of superposed stitches of mechanism for automatically presenting successive buttons in attaching position, and for automatically spacing the work between successive button attaching cycles. These mechanisms may be of any suitable construction which is adapted to cooperate with the stitch forming and other mechanisms of the machine. In order, however, to increase the rapidity with which a series of buttons may be attached. a further feature of the invention is preferably utilized in spacing-the work. This feature consists in the provision of mechanism for automatically spacing the work during that period in the reciprocation of the needle when itis clear of the work. The work may therefore be spaced while the stitch forming mechanism continues to run-at its normal speed, the movement of the work taking place after the needle clears the work Specification of Letters latent.

on its back stroke at the completion of one button attaching cycle, and then the needle enters the work on its forward stroke to begin the succeeding button attaching cycle.

This reduces the interval between the completion of one sewing cycle and the beginning of the next to a minimum. This feature of the invention is not confined in its application to a button sewing machine, but may beembodied with advantage in other machines in which a predetermined series or group of stitches is used in each of a plurality of successive sewing cycles.

The various features of the invention will be readily understood from an inspection of the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the machine illustrated therein.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side eleva tion of a machine for attaching shank eyed buttons embodying all the features of the invention in their preferred forms; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the machine; Fig. 3 is a detail section in plan view showing parts of the work spacing mechanism; Fig. 4 is a detail end view of the work spacing roll; and Fig. 5 is a detail view showing the manner in which the needle thread is withheld from the shuttle during the reciprocation of the needle in which the work is spaced. The invention is shown as embodied in a machine for attaching shank eyed buttons by a series of superposedlock stitches which in many respects is similar in construction to the machines shown in Patents Nos. 1,149,474, August 10, 1915, and 1,151,735, August 31, 1915. In this machine the shank eyed buttons are fed successively from the lower end of a button chute 2 into attaching position in the presser foot 4 by a reciprocating button carrier 6 similar in construction to the button carrier of Patent No. 1,149,474. The button carrier issecured Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Application filed February 26, 1918. Serial No. 219,315.

spring pressed bar 20 and during the sewing clampsthe work against the work supporting face of the throat plate 22. Vhen the machine is stopped the presser footie ging needle 30 and a cooperating shuttle 32.

The needle bar 34 is mounted in a frame 36 which is supported on pivot screws 3 and is so oscillated that the needle passes alternately through and outside ofthe button eye. The frame is thus oscillated through a lever 40 one end of which is connected by a link 4-2 with the frame and the other end of which carries a roll engaging a cam groove 44 which is formed in a cam disk secured to the cam shaft 12. The needle is reciprocated by a crank 48 mounted on the end of the driving shaft 50 and connected with the needle bar by a link 52. The shuttle is carried on the end of a shaft 54 which is driven from a crank 56 on the driving shaft through the link 58 and the usual connections indicated at 60.

The machine'is provided with a thread cutter and holder which is automatically operated to sever and hold the needle thread atthe completion of each button attaching cycle. The thread holder and cutter is similar to the thread holder and cutter of Pat ent No. 1,151,735 and comprises a thread cutting and gripping bar 62 mounted to reciprocate in a guide way Gel formed in the presser foot. The cutter and holder bar 62 is advanced. and retracted at the proper intervals during the operation of the machine through a bell crank lever ('36 one arm of which is connected by a link 68 with the bar and the other end of which carries a roll 7 Oarranged to engage a cam groove formed in one of the cam disks secured to the cam shaft 12.

The mechanism forautomatically spacing the workafter each button has been attached and the needle thread has been severed and held comprises a spacing or feeding roll 72 arranged to underlie the presser foot directly back of the work supporting face of the throat plate. This roll is normally below and out of contact with the under surface of the work. lVhen the work is to be spaced the roll is raised and presses the end of a shaft 7 4 the rear end of which carries a bevel gear 76 engaging a similar gear on the lower end of a shaft 78. The upper end of this shaft is connected with the driving shaft through bevel gears 80 so that continuous rotary movement is imparted to the feed roll. The rear end of the feed roll shaft 71 is j ournaled in a bracket 82 which is pivoted to the frame so that the forward end of the shaft may be raised and lowered. The forward end of the shaft is journaled in a bearing sleeve 84 which is supported on the forward end of an arm 86 secured to a rock shaft 88.

The mechanism for rocking the shaft 88 to raise and lower the feed roll at the proper intervals during the operation of the machine comprises a vertically reciprocating bar 90 arranged to be movedinto position to engage and depress a vertical rod 92, the lower end of which is pivotally connected to an arm 94: on the rock shaft. The'feed roll and rod 92 are held in normal position by a spring 93. The bar 90 is given a uniform reciprocation and the upper end of the rod 92 carries an adjustable contact sleeve 96 which may be vertically adjusted to vary the interval during which the feed roll is raised by the downward stroke of the bar 90. The lower end of the bar 90 slides through a bearing sleeve 98 which is provided with a lateral pivot engaging a bearing in the lower end of a carrier lever 100 and retained therein by a washer secured to the end of the pivot by a screw, as clearly indicated in Fig. 2. The upper end of the bar surrounds an eccentric 102 formed on a continuously rotating shaft 104. The shaft 104 is driven from the driving shaft through bevel gears 106 so that it is continuously driven and makes one revolution for each revolution of the driving shaft. The bar 90 is, therefore, advanced and retracted during each reciprocation of the needle bar and in timed relation thereto. The bar is normally held out of position to engage thecontact sleeve 96 by a spring 108, the position of the carrier lever 100 and bar 90 being determined by the engagement of a roll 110 on the bar with the periphery of the cam disk 46. When the work is to be spaced a cam projection 112 rides under the roll and swings the bar 90 into position above the contact sleeve 96, this movement of the bar taking place when the bar is at the upper end of its stroke and just as the needle emerges from the upper side of the work. During the next forward or downward stroke of the bar it engages'the upper end of the contact sleeve 96 and depresses the rod 92, thus-raising the feed roll so that it will act to advance and space the work. The interval during which the roll is raised and the distance through which the work is spaced will depend upon the adjustment of the contact sleeve 96, the vertical position of which will determine the'interval during which the bar 90 will retain the roll in raised position.

The maximum interval during which the feed roll may act is the interval between the disengagement of the lower end of the needle from the work and its'reengagement therewith and the speed of the feed roll is such that the maximum feed or spacing which may be desired will'be effected within such interval. i To enable the work to be advanced by the feed roll during themajor portion of this interval means is provided for preventing the engagement of the needle loop by the shuttle during that reciprocation ofthe needle in which the work is to be advanced by the feed roll. The needle will,

therefore, during this reciprocation merely carry a needle loop down-through the work and then withdraw it from thework and the advance of the work may begin immediately after the;needle has clearedthe work and without waiting for the needle thread to pass around the shuttle and-to be drawn up by the take up. This manner of handling the needle thread is, of special importance in case aZthread cutter and holder is employed-for severing and holding the thread at the lend of the button attaching cycle.

In such case'the thread cutter and holder needle thread between a thread guiding loop 116 which is secured to the needle bar and a thread guidingloop 118-which is secured to'the frame 36. The thread leads from t-he needle eye'back of the guide 116, in front of the controller finger 114 ,a11d; back of the guide 118 to; the take-up 120 which'is of the usual construction and is operated from the cam 122 on the driving shaft... The thread controlling finger 114 is formed by the horizontal arm of a rod 124 which is secured .in one arm of a lever 126. Theother armof the, lever is slotted to engage a pin in the forwardend of a'l'ever 128, the rear end of which carries a roll 130arranged-to ride on the peripheryof thecam disk which is secured to the cam shaft '12; The cam disk is provided with a cam ,projection 132 arranged to rock the lever;l28 and swing the thread controller 114 forward, as indicated ,inFig. 5,and; thus hold the needle threadtaut before the needle starts upward and prevent the throwing out of the usual loop to be entered .by the point of the a series of buttons -is as follows: The work is placed in position over the throat plate and feed rolland then the machine is started by depression of the starting treadle which is connected to the sto mechanism through the usual rod 134. he moy ement of the stop mechanism releases the lever 26 so that the presser foot clamps the work against the throat plate. The movement of the stop mechanism also shifts the driving belt on to the driving shaft so that the shaft is operated and through the worm 136 and worm wheel 138 transmits motion to the. cam shaft 12. During the first-down stroke of the needle it is positioned to pass outside the button eye and at this time there is no button in position in the presser foot. During the first up stroke ofthe needle the button carrier moves forward and feeds a button into position in the presser foot so that it-is in position forthe passage of the needle through its eye during the. second downward stroke of the needle. During the continued rotation of the cam shaft .12 the needle passes alternately through and outside of'the eyeof the'button, thus forming a group or series of superposedstitches the number of which will depend upon the form of the cam groove 44 and the number of rotations of thedriving shaft required to turn the cam shaft through a single revolution. During the sewing the thread cutter and holder bar 62 is advanced to open the thread cutter and holder at a time when the needle is positioned to pass through the button eye. During the latter part of the sewing after a sufficient number of stitcheshave been sewed to retain the button in position the button carrier is retracted preparatory to feeding forward the succeeding button in the button chute. The cam groove 44' is so shaped that after making its last reciprocation through the eye ofthe button the needlepasses through the work at the usual point outside the eye and then during its next reciprocation passes through the work at a slightly increased distance from the eye and then again passes through the work at the usual distance outside the eye. As theineedlecompletesits reciprocation at the abnormal distance outside of the eye and after the stitch thus formed has been tightened by the take-up the thread cutter and holder is operated to cut and hold the end of the needle thread. During the next. reciprocation ofthe needle which as before statedis throughthe work at' the usual normal distance outside the button eye, the

thread controller finger acts to vpreventthe throwing out of-a loop by theneedleso that Y space','and reclamp the work without interrupting the reciprocation of the needle. The bar 90 thenreturns to normal. inactive position, and the cycle of operations is'rep'eated. So long as the starting rod remains depressed, therefore, the buttons will be automatically fed and attached and the work.

spaced while the sewing mechanism continues to run at its normal speed. When the desired number of buttons have been attached the starting rod'is released so that it is free to rise, and the machine will be stopped at the completion of an attaching and spacing cycle by the stop mechanism, the movement of which into active position is controlled by a timinglever ,140. One end of the lever carries a roll 142 arranged to ride on the periphery of a controlling cam which is secured to the cam shaft 12 and is provided with a depression into which theroll may pass when the parts are in the position indicated in Fig. 1; While it is preferred to employ the specific construction and arrangement of parts shownand described, particularly in embodying the invention in the type of machine shown and described inthe patents above referred to, it will be understood that this construction and arrangement is not essential to the broader features of the in- 40 vention, and may be varied or modified as found desirable o'r'best suited to the construction and mode of operation of the ma- 7 chine in which it'is to be embodied.

What is claimed is':- v Q 1. A sewing machine having, in combina tion, stitch forming mechanism including a uniformly reciprocating needle, mech'a-' nism for actuating the same to sew apredetermined group of stitches in each of a succession of sewing cycles, andmechanism for automatically shifting the work during a' reciprocation of the needle between successive cycles to secure an unstitched space between successive groups of stitches. 2. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a uniformly reciprocating needle, mechanism for actuating the same to sew a predetermined group of stitches in each of a suc- '60 cession of sewing cycles, and mechanism for automatically shifting the work during a reciprocation of the needle between ,su'cces sive cycles to secure an unstitched space.

between successive groups of stitches adjustable to vary'thespacing. I

Work during areciprocation of the needle.

' 4. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a uniformly reciprocating needle and a loop taker, mechanism for actuating the same to sew a predetermined group of stitches in each of a successionof sewing cycles, mecha- .80 nism for preventing the'taking of the loop by the loop taker during the reciprocation of the needle following the completion of the group, and mechanism for spacing the work before it is again entered by the needle.

' 5 sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a uniformly reciprocating needle and a loop taker, mechanism for actuating the same to sew-a predetermined group of stitches in v each of a succession of sewing cycles, means 1 for severing andholding the thread at the completion ofithe group, mechanism for preventing the taking of the loop by the 95 loop taker during the succeeding reciproca tion of the'needle, and mechanism for there after spacing'the work before it is again I entered by the needle. Y I

6. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism comprising a reciprocating needle and a loop taker, and mechanism for preventing the taking of the needle loop by the loop ta'kerand for spacing the'work after a predetermined series of stitch forming cycles. r

7. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, and mech anisms acting automatically at intervals, 7 including a plurality of stitch forming cycles, to release, 1 space and reclamp the work and to feed buttons successively into attaching position. v I

'8. A sewing' machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, a work clampingpresser foot, a button carrier for feeding buttons successively to; the presser foot, mechanism for automatically lifting the, presser foot and spacing the work after a predetermined number of-stitch forming cycles, and mechanism for automatically operating the button carrier between successive button attaching and spacing cycles.

9. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism, means for presenting buttons in attaching position, and mechanisms forcutting and holding the thread and for automatically spacing the work between button attaching cycles;

" 10.1A- sewing machine having, in combiof superposed button attaching stitches,

mechanism for automatically spacing the work between groups, and mechanism for automatically actuating the button carrier.

12. A sewing machine having, in combination, mechanism for automatically presenting buttons in attaching position, stitch forming mechanism for forming successive groups of button attaching stitches including a uniformly reciprocating needle, and

mechanism for spacing the work between groups during a return and forward stroke of the needle.

13. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism comprising a needle and loop taker, means for pre senting buttons in attaching position, means for severing and holding the needle thread after a predetermined series of stitch forming cycles, mechanism for withholding the needle thread from the loop taker during the succeeding forward stroke of the needle,

cycles.

and mechanism for spacing the work during the return and next succeeding forward. stroke of the needle. I

14. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitchforming mechanism, a presser foot, a feed roll underlying the presser foot, normally inactive mechanism for raising and lowering the feed roll during a single cycle of the stitch forming mechanism, and mechanism for rendering the roll raising and lowering mechanism active at intervals including a plurality of stitch forming 15. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism including a reciprocating needle, a presser foot, a feed roll underlying the presser foot, mechanism for raising the feed roll including a bar reciprocating in time with the needle, and mechanism for rendering the bar active at intervals including a plurality of stitch forming cycles. 1

16. A sewing machine having, in combination, stitch forming mechanism includin a reciprocating needle, a presser foot, a feed roll underlying the presser foot, a rod connected to raise and lower the roll, a bar reciprocating in time with the needle, and mechanism acting at intervals to move the bar during a single reciprocation into and out of position to engage and operate the rod.

BERNARD T. LEVEQUE. 

